Goedon merritt



PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904.

G. MERRITT.

PEDAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

@Zfarn Patented February 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GORDON MERRITT, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

PEDAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,916, dated February 23, 1904.

Application filed May 8, 1903. Serial No. 156,144. (No model.)

To all whom it may 00neern:

Be it known that I, GORDON MERRITT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ridgewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pedal designed more especially for use as a piano-pedal and which possesses provision enabling the pivotal or other support of the pedal to be located at different points lengthwise thereof.

The present invention embodies a construction for such pedals, enabling such accessories to be readily secured in place, whatever he the conditions as to design and construction of the parts with which the pedal is associated that is to say, the present improvements when embodied in a piano-pedal, considered as an article of manufacture, renders the latter capable of application to its intended purpose with different proportions, constructions, and configurations of associated parts, or, in other words, enables the article to be readily used with different makes or manufactures of pianos.

A further feature is manifest in a pedal in whose construction the present improvements are embodied in that there is a capacity for altering the length of the pedal and the leverage applied thereby to the pedal-action.

The drawings accompanying the present specification set forth an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 being an elevational view of the lower portion of an upright piano of conventional construction, a portion of the lower wall being broken away. Fig. 2 is partly a side elevation and partly a longitudinal section upon a somewhat enlarged scale of a pedal embodying in its construction the present improvements. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the pedal set forth in Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow, part, however, being shown in elevation. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevational and sectional views, respectively, showing a modified construction for fulcruming the pedal to its supports. Figs. 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12 are similar elevational and sectional views, respectively, illustrating still further constructions for pivotally mounting the pedal. Fig. 18 shows a spring pedal-support.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all figures.

Under circumstances in which piano-pedals constitute an article of manufacture for general sale and use it is contemplated that they shall be applied to their intended purpose under varying conditions as respects the general form and construction or the particular style or make of instrument in which they are to be used. In order that they shall properly function, therefore, under variant or different forms and organization of associated parts, it has been found desirable that they should possess, as an article of manufacture, provision for variously positioning the support about which they turn. A pedal embodying the present improvements has a capacity for altering the position of this support to accord with the various conditions met with in practice. Incidental to this peculiarity of the present pedal and considered as one of the features of the present improvements the latter provides a pedal so constructed that the leverage or the distance from the foot portion of the pedal to the support may be varied.

For the convenient fixed pivotal mounting of the pedal I employ a pivot pin or axle and combine with such pin means for securely holding the pedal with reference to such axle in such a manner as to restrain the pedal from movement relatively thereto in all directions save a turning movement about the pivotal or fulcrum axis.

Proceeding to a detailed description of the parts illustrated in the drawings, a pianobody is designated in a general way by 2, the front wall 3 thereof being broken away to show the rods 4, by which the mechanism, such as the hammers and dampers, are actuated by the operation of the pedals. The referred-to mechanism, constituting no part of the present invention, will not be more particularly referred to.

The pedals are designated by 5, and the pedal construction is disclosed more particularly in Fig. 2 and the following figures, the foot portion of the pedal being designated by 6 and the stem or shank thereof by 7 The fulcrum-pin 8 for the pedal is suppcited in bearings in standards 9, secured in this instance to the floor 10 of the piano. I prefer to clamp the fulcrum-pin securely to the pedal at the desired point thereof, and in order to enable this rigid clamping at difierent points along the shank of the pedal to be effected T provide the latter with a series of reduced or cut-away portions, with the walls of which the clamping means may be engaged. It may here be stated that the fulcrum-pin is sufficiently elongated to extend beyond the side of the pedal and pass through the openings in the aforesaid standards 9, which are preferably brought closeup to the sides of the pedalshank to preclude undesirable lateral movement of the pedal. 'Of course a sound-deadening material may be inserted in the pivotal openings in the standards or other means used for suppressing noise, as usual in such instruments. The aforesaid reduced or cutaway portions may be in the form of openings in the shank of the pedals or notched therein, either one or both of which may be used. The openings, such as 11, are formed in this instance along the upper part of the shank of the pedal. A great variety of means may be used for clamping the fulcrum-pin in position, a few of which are disclosed in the drawings. In the means set forth in Figs. 2, S, and 4 the pin passes through the eye of an eyebolt 12, whose stem is inserted through the desired one of the openings 11. The eyebolt may then be drawn upward by a nut 13 to clamp the fulcrum-pin rigidly to the pedal. Notchessuch, for instance, as those indicated by 14-1nay also be formed in the lower edges of the shank and in which the fulcrum-pin is seated, although it is evident from the preceding explanation that such notches may be omitted.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the fulcrum-pin 8 may be passed through any pair of alined openings 15 in the sides of the peclal-shanlz,being drawn upward to clamp the same in position by a screw 16 seated in one of the openings 11 and passing through a tapped hole in a strap 17 having eyes therein through which the ful- I crum-pin extends.

posed at the top of the pedal, being clamped thereto by means of a keeper 21, through an opening in which the pin passes, while the keeper itself is secured to the pedal-shank by a screw 22 passing through one of the aforesaid openings 11 in the shank and having a clamping-nut 23 engaged therewith.

In Figs. 11 and 12 a strap 24:,so1newhat similar to the aforesaid strap 17 of Figs. 5 and 6, is effective to clamp the fulcrum-pin to the notched lower edges of the pedal-shank by means of a wedge 25. In the particular construction the openings in the upper part of the shank are omitted. A returning-spring 26 for the pedal is also indicated.

It is apparent from the aforesaid construction that the position of the fulcrum-pin may be changed longitudinally of the pedal through limits which are comparatively widely separated, there thus existing a possibility of varying the position of said pin with reference to the foot portion of the pedal. Nevertheless, the pin may be securely held with reference to the pedal, although leaving the latter free to turn about the axis of the pin. Incidentally to the construction as aforesaid the position of the transmitting-rod 4; may be altered with reference to the fulcrum-pin, this rod conveniently passing through an opening 11 in the shank of the pedal, in which it may be secured by proper means.

Instead of employing a pedal-support of such a nature that a fixed pivotal axis is defined thereby I may use a support which not only acts as such, but also functions as a spring for returning the pedal after depression. If the fastening device for this latter form of support is of such a nature to cooperate with the reduced portions of the pedal, provision will exist, obviously, for differently positioning the support with reference to the pedal. Such a support is disclosed in Fig. 13, the spring-support being designated by 27 and the fastening-bolts (insertible through the proper pair of openings 11 in the pedal) by 28.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A pedal combined with a fulcrum-support; a fastening device for securing the two together; and means for engaging such device with the pedal at different points there along, whereby the relative position of the support may be adjusted.

2. A pedal having a series of reduced portions disposed along its length, combined with a support, ,and means for securing the support in engagement with the desired one of said reduced portions.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a pianopedal, a fulcrum-support therefor; a fastening device for securing the two together; and means for engaging such device with the pedal at difierent points therealong whereby the relative position of the support may be adjusted.

10 position.

6. The combination with a piano-pedal provided with reduced portions along its length, of a fulcrum-pin, means for holding said fulcrurn-pin, one of said parts being adapted to engage with any particular one of said reduced 5 portions, and side supports for the pin.

GORDON MERRlTT. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, JOHN O. SEIFERT. 

